Removable memory cards including USB and other controllers, connectors, and methods of operating same

Abstract

A removable memory card can include a plurality of connector contacts including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller module power contact and a separate controller module power contact configured to provide separate mutually exclusively applied voltage to the removable memory card.

1. A Multi-Media Card (MMC)/Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card comprising a plurality of connector contacts including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) power contact and a separate MMC/SD power contact configured to provide separate voltage supplies to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card,
 wherein the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card is included in an MMC/SD form-factor compliant singular housing, 
 wherein the USB power contact comprises a connector contact on a beveled edge of the MMC/SD form-factor compliant singular housing, 
 wherein the MMC/SD power contact comprises a connector contact at a center position on a straight edge of the MMC/SD form-factor compliant singular housing. 
 
   
   
     2. A device according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of contacts are arranged for USB or MMC/SD use on the straight edge from adjacent to the beveled edge as: a USB clock output/a NC, first USB data input/CMD input, first ground input, MMC/SD power input, USB clock input/MMC clock input, second ground, second USB data input/MMC data input. 
   
   
     3. A Multi-Media Card (MMC)/Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card comprising a plurality of connector contacts including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) power contact and a separate MMC/SD power contact configured to provide separate voltage supplies to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card,
 wherein the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card operates according to a USB interface protocol via the plurality of connector contacts responsive to a USB voltage applied to the USB power contact; and 
 wherein the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card operates according to an MMC/SD interface protocol via the plurality of connector contacts responsive to an MMC/SD voltage applied to the MMC/SD power contact. 
 
   
   
     4. A Multi-Media Card (MMC)/Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card comprising a plurality of connector contacts including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) power contact and a separate MMC/SD power contact configured to provide separate voltage supplies to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card;
 a non-volatile memory configured to store data for access; 
 a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface controller coupled to the plurality of connector contacts and to the non-volatile memory, configured to interface the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card to a USB host device according to a USB interface protocol responsive to a USB voltage applied to the USB power contact; and 
 an MMC interface controller coupled to the plurality of connector contacts and to the non-volatile memory, configured to interface the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card to an MMC/SD host device according to an MMC/SD interface protocol responsive to an MMC/SD voltage applied to the MMC/SD power contact. 
 
   
   
     5. A device according to  claim 4  wherein the USB voltage and the MMC/SD voltage are applied mutually exclusive of one another. 
   
   
     6. A memory card comprising:
 a USB power pin; 
 a plurality of connection pins; and 
 a controller which controls communication with an external host through the USB power pin and the connection pins, 
 wherein the controller comprises a first controller module which controls communication with a USB host and a second controller module which controls communication with a host other than the USB host, and 
 the first controller module operates in response to a source voltage applied through the USB power pin and the second controller module operates in response to a source voltage applied through a source voltage pin among the plurality of connection pins. 
 
   
   
     7. The memory card of  claim 6 , being an MMC (Multi Media Card), wherein the second controller module is an MMC controller module. 
   
   
     8. The memory card of  claim 7 , wherein the first controller module and the second controller module share a ground pin among the plurality of connection pins. 
   
   
     9. The memory card of  claim 7 , wherein if one of the first controller module and the second controller module operates, the other thereof does not operate. 
   
   
     10. The memory card of  claim 7 , wherein the first controller module receives a clock signal through a clock pin among the plurality of connection pins, outputs the clock signal through an RSV pin, receives data through a command pin, and receives inversed data through a data pin. 
   
   
     11. The memory card of  claim 7 , wherein the first controller module further comprises a regulator for controlling a source voltage level applied through the USB power pin. 
   
   
     12. A connector comprising:
 a Multi-Media Card (MMC)/Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card connector interface including a plurality of first contacts configured to interface to an MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card; and 
 a standard Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector interface including a plurality of second contacts coupled to the plurality of first contacts and configured to interface to a USB compliant host device wherein the plurality of first contacts are arranged for USB or MMC/SD use as: USB power input, a USB clock output/a NC (No Connect), first USB data input/CMD (Command) input, first ground input, MMC/SD power input, a USB clock input/MMC clock input, second ground input, second USB data input/MMC data input. 
 
   
   
     13. A connector according to  claim 12  further comprising:
 a voltage regulator coupled to the USB power input; 
 a capacitor coupled between the USB power input and the first and second ground inputs; 
 an oscillator circuit coupled between the USB input and output clocks; 
 a first impedance matching resistor coupled to the first USB data input; and 
 a second impedance matching resistor coupled to the second USB data input. 
 
   
   
     14. A connector according to  claim 12  wherein the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card connector interface is configured to removably couple to a MMC/SD compliant singular housing. 
   
   
     15. A connector according to  claim 14  wherein the removable MMC/SD compliant singular housing comprises dimensions of about 32 mm×about 24 mm×about 1.4 mm. 
   
   
     16. A removable memory system comprising:
 an MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card including a plurality of connector contacts including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) power contact and a separate MMC/SD power contact configured to provide separate voltage supplies to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card; and 
 a connector including
 an MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card connector interface including a plurality of first contacts configured to interface to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card; and 
 
 a standard Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector interface including a plurality of second contacts coupled to the plurality of first contacts and configured to interface to a USB compliant host device. 
 
   
   
     17. A removable memory system according to  claim 16  further comprising:
 a voltage regulator coupled to the USB power input; 
 a capacitor coupled between the USB power input and the first and second ground inputs; 
 an oscillator circuit coupled between the USB input and output clocks; 
 a first impedance matching resistor coupled to the first USB data input; and 
 a second impedance matching resistor coupled to the second USB data input. 
 
   
   
     18. A removable memory system according to  claim 16  wherein the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card connector interface is configured to removably couple to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory. 
   
   
     19. A method of interfacing an MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card to a standard USB host device:
 applying a USB voltage from the USB host to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card; and 
 avoiding applying an MMC/SD voltage to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card while the USB voltage is applied; and 
 receiving an access to a memory included in the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card from the a USB host; and 
 mapping signals received from the USB host included in the access to the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card to provide access to the memory.